Patents Issued in December 4, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080296460
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a ceiling mounted brace bracket assembly for securing an electrical fixture. The brace of the invention includes a telescoping tubular bar mechanism for adjustment during installation and pre-set fastener openings to hold fasteners in place for “one-handed” installation. The design distributes the weight of the fixture to a specific component of the brace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Jack Russell Kerr, JR.
  • Publication number: 20080296461
    Abstract: A secure device, which provides an elastic metal bar made main body, includes a press part, two force exerting parts and two holding parts. The press part is disposed at the middle of the main body for pressing a heat sink. Each of the force exerting parts is aslope extending from an end of the press part respectively with a large flat portion for force exertion. Each of the holding part extends from the force exerting part respectively with a hook end to correspond to and engage with a component on a heat source. Hence, the heat sink is capable of contacting the heat source tightly and the press part is capable of being operated conveniently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: ZHI-WEI TAO
  • Publication number: 20080296462
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting mechanism for a removable bollard, which has high flexibility and convenience for the removal and reinstallation of the bollard and the socket for inserting the bollard can be covered without having additional devices after the removal of the bollard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventor: Kin Wai Michael Siu
  • Publication number: 20080296463
    Abstract: An adjustable rotation base includes a base housing and a transportation arrangement. The base housing has a bottom side, an upper side for coupling with the supporting post to support the outer umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity indently formed on the bottom side of the base housing, wherein the base housing includes a stationary unit provided at the bottom side for sitting on the ground surface in a stationary manner, and a plurality of transferring wheels rotatably supported at the bottom side of the base housing. The transportation arrangement is provided at the base housing to operate the base housing between an idle mode and a transportation mode in which the stationary unit is upwardly lifted to allow the transferring wheels being sitting on the ground surface, such that the base housing is adapted to be transported on the ground surface via the transferring wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Wanda Ying Li
  • Publication number: 20080296464
    Abstract: An adjustable rotation base includes a base housing and a transportation arrangement. The base housing has a bottom side, an upper side for coupling with the supporting post to support the outer umbrella in an upright manner, and a receiving cavity indently formed on the bottom side of the base housing, wherein the base housing includes a stationary unit provided at the bottom side for sitting on the ground surface in a stationary manner, and a plurality of transferring wheels rotatably supported at the bottom side of the base housing. The transportation arrangement is provided at the base housing to operate the base housing between an idle mode and a transportation mode in which the stationary unit is upwardly lifted to allow the transferring wheels being sitting on the ground surface, such that the base housing is adapted to be transported on the ground surface via the transferring wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Wanda Ying Li
  • Publication number: 20080296465
    Abstract: A stand for holding pole or trunk-shaped articles, in particular Christmas trees, comprising one or more support arrangements on the base plate for supporting and holding the retaining elements, the support arrangement comprises, for each retaining element, bearings, open transversely to the axial direction, into which the pivot pins or hollow shafts, laterally protruding over the respective retaining element, can be positioned, for fixing the pivot pins or hollow shafts of the retaining elements a thrust bearing is provided, the thrust bearing is supported, at least indirectly, on the base plate, in particular on the at least one support arrangement or on a separate retaining device connected to the base plate, and the thrust bearing is provided or formed on the interior and lower face of the housing cover and/or on a separate component underneath the interior and lower face of the housing cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Bernd Schommertz
  • Publication number: 20080296466
    Abstract: An apparatus suspending a personal article from an upper surface of a fixture is provided. The apparatus includes a vertical member, a first arm extending from a first end of the vertical member and resting on the upper surface of the fixture and a second arm extending from a second end of the vertical member from which the personal article hangs. The first arm includes a light source and the second arm includes a utility space storing personal items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Marlene Alfin
  • Publication number: 20080296467
    Abstract: An improved hanger is provided that has a mounting block through which a shaft is threaded. One or more hooks are threaded onto with one or more mount receiving slots inline with the shaft. Inverted mount receiving slots are provided. The mounting block may be mounted directly to a wall or using a bracket on which the mounting block may be adjusted laterally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: JONATHAN N. HAVELOCK, PETER T. SEKULIC, STJEPAN BALENOVIC, BERNIE FUCHS, HERBERT GUNDERMANN
  • Publication number: 20080296468
    Abstract: An ignition switch device is provided with a switching means 2 having a key hole 2a, and capable of being rotationally operated in a predetermined direction with an ignition key K inserted to start and stop the engine of an industrial machine, a case 3 covering the switching means 2 and formed with an insertion hole 3b allowing the key hole 2a to face the outside, a shutter 4 rotatable between a closed position where the insertion hole 3b of the case 3 is closed, and an open position where the insertion hole 3b is opened to allow the key hole 2a to face outside, and a protruding portion 7 formed within the range of rotation of the shutter 4 while protruding from the surface 3a of the case 3 and whose protruding end contacts the rear surface 4b of the shutter 4 while the shutter 4 rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicants: ASAHI DENSO CO., LTD., KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko TSUCHIKIRI, Takehiro SAKAI, Masaaki UEDA, Keisuke MIURA, Hiroshi KAWANAMI
  • Publication number: 20080296469
    Abstract: A transport system suited for transporting a turbine engine mounted to an engine docking unit is provided. The transport system is capable of adjusting the attitude of the docking unit in at least the lateral and longitudinal directions relative to the engine to facilitate the loading and unloading of the turbine engine to and from the transport system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Daniel Mainville, Alessandro Faraci
  • Publication number: 20080296470
    Abstract: A jet pump sensing line support clamp may be used for sensing line repair, replacement, and damage prevention or reduction. The clamp may affix to jet pump sensing line supports and confine the individual jet pump sensing lines. The clamp may provide for further access or securing of the lines in the support through the clamp. Methods of installing the clamp may include attaching and tightening the clamp against the sensing lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Grant C. Jensen
  • Publication number: 20080296471
    Abstract: A permanent casting mould for casting cast parts, in particular cylinder heads, from a molten metal, in particular a molten light metal includes at least one mould body, which at least partially surrounds a mould cavity reproducing the cast part to be cast and, in the wall of which limiting the mould cavity, a receiver is formed having a shoulder passing into the mould cavity and comprising a casting mould insert seated in the receiver, which has an upper side associated with the mould cavity surrounded by the respective permanent casting mould, a base body seated in the receiver with play when the casting mould is cold and a support collar which extends over a fraction of the height of the base body of the casting mould insert and is seated with positive fit in the shoulder of the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Hydro Aluminium Mandl & Berger GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Gosch, Peter Stika
  • Publication number: 20080296472
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring beam currents of an implanter is provided. The apparatus includes a beam-sensing unit for sensing the beam currents; a position-determining unit for determining scan positions; and a computing unit. The computing unit is configured to perform the functions of receiving the beam currents from the beam-sensing unit; receiving the scan positions from the position-determining unit; and determining a drift status of the implanter from the beam currents, wherein the computing unit is configured to receive the beam currents and the scan position periodically between a starting time and an ending time of a scan process of the implanter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Juan-Lin Chen, Yung-Fu Yeh, Yuk-Tong Lee, Nai-Han Cheng
  • Publication number: 20080296473
    Abstract: A ladder resistor circuit generates a plurality of different reference voltages. A plurality of switching circuits correspond to a plurality of taps of the ladder resistor circuit. Each of the plurality of switching circuits is connected at one end to a corresponding one of the taps and connected at the other end to an output node, and has a variable on-resistance value. A control circuit selects continuous n (where n is any integer equal to or greater than 2) of the plurality of switching circuits, turns the n switching circuits on, and sets the respective on-resistance values of the n switching circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Yuusuke YAMAOKA
  • Publication number: 20080296474
    Abstract: A photoelectric sensor according to the present invention, performs a determination as to whether or not an object is present in a predetermined detection area and provides (1) a enable signal to enable operation related to a hazardous source and (2) a disable signal to disable the operation based on a result of the determination. The photoelectric sensor determines whether or not the object is present within the predetermined detection area and whether or not the object is present at a reference point which is a different location within a measurement area from the predetermined detection area, based on a position information; and provides the enable signal when the object is absent from the predetermined detection area but the object is present at the reference point, and provides the disable signal when the object is present within the predetermined detection area and the object is absent at the reference point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: KEYENCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akiji Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20080296475
    Abstract: A vertical CMOS image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes formed vertically in a substrate to a first depth. The vertical CMOS image sensor further includes a plurality of signal processing devices formed to correspond to the plurality of photodiodes. The plurality of signal processing devices are formed to transmit signals generated from the plurality of photodiodes. Each of the signal processing devices is substantially formed on the same plane with a corresponding one of the plurality of photodiodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Taek Kim
  • Publication number: 20080296476
    Abstract: The present invention is a pixel sensor cell and method of making the same. The pixel sensor cell approximately doubles the available signal for a given quanta of light. The device of the present invention utilizes the holes produced by impinging photons in a pixel sensor cell circuit. A pixel sensor cell having reduced complexity includes an n-type collection well region formed beneath a surface of a substrate for collecting electrons generated by electromagnetic radiation impinging on the pixel sensor cell and a p-type collection well region formed beneath the surface of the substrate for collecting holes generated by the impinging photons. A circuit structure having a first input is coupled to the n-type collection well region and a second input is coupled to the p-type collection well region, wherein an output signal of the pixel sensor cell is the magnitude of the difference of a signal of the first input and a signal of the second input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, Andres Bryant, John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Mark D. Jaffe, Jeffrey B. Johnson, Alain Lolseau
  • Publication number: 20080296477
    Abstract: An optical system includes an optical element defining an optical axis and a focal plane and a defocus element disposed between the optical element and the focal plane. The defocus element includes at least one first lens for producing a positive defocus image of a light beam passing through the optical element, irrespective of a position of the first lens along the optical axis, and at least one second lens for producing a negative defocus image of the light beam passing through the optical element, irrespective of a position of the second lens along the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: U.S.A. as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Adm.
    Inventor: Bruce H. Dean
  • Publication number: 20080296478
    Abstract: Optical sensors containing reduced amounts of cross talk, as well as methods for making and using such sensors are described. The sensors contain a light absorption coating that is placed on a portion of the external surface of the optical sensor near the detector. This absorption coating reduces the amount of cross talk by reducing the amount of light reflected inside a transparent package of the sensor. As well, the coating can also reduce the amount of ambient and/or stray light that enters the sensor. The coating adds little cost or complexity to the manufacturing process for the sensors, yet reduces the cross talk without substantially increasing the size of the sensor or without increasing any reliability risks. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Thierry Hernoult
  • Publication number: 20080296479
    Abstract: A high strength window for a radiation detection system has a plurality of ribs comprising diamond material. The plurality of ribs defines a grid having openings therein. The tops of the ribs terminate generally in a common plane and the height of the ribs is sufficiently thin to allow some radiation to pass directly through the diamond material of the ribs. The high strength window also has a support frame around a perimeter of the grid. A layer of thin polymer film material is disposed over and spans the plurality of ribs and openings to pass radiation therethrough. A radiation detection system comprises a high strength window as described above and a sensor behind the window. The sensor is configured to detect radiation that passes thought the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Eric C. Anderson, Raymond T. Perkins, Degao Xu, Keith W. Decker
  • Publication number: 20080296480
    Abstract: The invention relates to optical sensor measurement methods that use a swept wavelength optical source to determine wavelength shift as well as to optical sensor systems that embody and employ these methods. A variable scan rate swept optical source is used to determine the optical path length from the optical interrogator to the optical sensors being measured. This data can then be used as desired or needed in implementing the sensor or making sensor measurements. In particular the data can be used in the optical sensor system to compensate for potential measurement errors due to the finite speed of light in the optical medium interconnecting optical sensors under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Todd C. Haber, Joel L. Mock, Jerry Volcy
  • Publication number: 20080296481
    Abstract: A chirp measurement apparatus includes a splitting section for splitting input signal light to two paths; a first dispersion medium with a total dispersion amount of +D (?0) at a used wavelength, and a second dispersion medium with a total dispersion amount of ?D (?0) at the used wavelength; first and second nonlinear photo-detecting sections for receiving the signal light beams passing through the first and second dispersion media, and for outputting electric signals with the intensities proportional to nth power of the intensities of the signal light beams, where n is greater than one; and a difference detecting section for computing a difference between the electric signals output from the first and second nonlinear photo-detecting sections, and for outputting a differential signal corresponding to the difference as a chirp signal of the input signal light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Tetsuro Inui, Kunihiko Mori, Kohichi Robert Tamura
  • Publication number: 20080296482
    Abstract: A method and system for fluorescence imaging of a target in a subject comprising a scattering medium is provided. The method comprises illuminating one or more points on a surface of the scattering medium using an illumination source, wherein the plurality of points define an illumination region, collecting emitted light from an illumination region and an area away from the illumination region, and generating an image of the scattering medium using the emitted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Deborah Stutz Lee, Kajoli Banerjee Krishnan, Siavash Yazdanfar, Stephen Johnson Lomnes, Floribertus P.M. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Stephen Andrew Latham
  • Publication number: 20080296483
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for producing a source of ions, and particularly, a focused ion beam. The system and method use a magneto-optical trap (MOT) to produce a population of neutral atoms. A laser is then utilized to ionize atoms and produce a population of ions. An extraction element is then used to transfer the ions so that they can be used in a wide array of applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jabez J. McClelland, James L. Hanssen, Marcus Jacka, Shannon B. Hill
  • Publication number: 20080296484
    Abstract: An ion implantation system and method of monitoring implant energy of an ion implantation device. The ion implantation system includes an ion implantation device and a monitoring device. The ion implantation device generates a plurality of charged particles and accelerates them with an accelerating voltage for ion implantation. The monitoring device performs spectroscopic analysis of the charged particles to obtain the real accelerating voltage. Thus, implant energy output by the ion implantation device can be calibrated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Szetsen Steven Lee
  • Publication number: 20080296485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the mass spectrometry examination of at least one analyte, wherein an analyte to be examined is photoionized and the mass of the ions produced is determined in a mass spectrometer. The analyte to be examined is ionized at normal atmospheric ambient pressure by means of laser light using multiphoton ionization, especially resonant multiphoton ionization. The invention also relates to a device which comprises an ionization chamber in which an analyte to be examined is ionized at normal atmospheric ambient pressure using resonant multiphoton ionization and is transferred into a mass spectrometer. Said device can be used as an interface between a device for the chromatographic or electrophoretic separation of analytes and a mass spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: BRUKER DALTONIK GMBH
    Inventors: Thorsten Benter, Klaus-Josef Brockman, Marc Constapel, Siegmar Gab, Ronald Giese, Oliver J. Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20080296486
    Abstract: A mass spectrometric method for determining the position of unsaturation in a compound is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: The University of Wollongong
    Inventors: Stephen James Blanksby, David Grant Harman, Michael Christopher Thomas, Todd William Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20080296487
    Abstract: A method and system for rapid determination of a hydrocarbon type composition, such as crude oils and fractions thereof, and s obtaining the information necessary to assess the yield of commercially valuable fuel and lube oil fractions in a single process, variations of the method and system use Gas Chromatography-FID/Mass Spectrometry and other features, including an auto sampler, a wall coated capillary column, a temperature programmable injector, and a data processing system for compiling and processing the experimental data. The system and method further include a computer system with application software or other processing mechanism and optionally a communication network. One variation provides a graphical user interface for the entry of data and for displaying information, such as in a graphical manner, to show the relationship of various determined outputs and results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Joaquin A. Lubkowitz, Aaron Mendez, Roberto I. Meneghini
  • Publication number: 20080296488
    Abstract: The invention relates to spatially resolved mass spectrometric measurement and visualization of the distribution of small molecules in a mass range from approximately 150 to 500 Daltons, for example drugs and their metabolites, in thin sections or other two-dimensional samples, preferably with ionization of the molecules by matrix-assisted laser desorption. The invention includes the steps measuring a daughter ion produced by forced decomposition of the molecular ion instead of the ionized analyte molecule itself, the daughter ion having a much better signal-to-noise ratio. The daughter ions are detected in a relatively simple reflector time-of-flight mass spectrometer instead of using an expensive time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometers for the measurement of the daughter ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Armin Holle
  • Publication number: 20080296489
    Abstract: The present invention relates to atom probe evaporation processes. For example, certain aspects are directed toward methods for controlling an evaporation process in an atom probe that includes initiating the atom probe evaporation process and monitoring a parameter associated with material being evaporated from a specimen. The method can further include controlling at least one characteristic of the atom probe evaporation process to attain a desired evaporation rate or characteristic. In selected embodiments, monitoring a parameter associated with material being evaporated can include monitoring an evaporation rate, mass-to-charge ratios of evaporated ions, a mass resolution, a composition of material being evaporated, and/or the like. In certain embodiments, controlling at least one characteristic can include controlling a pulse energy, a pulse frequency, a bias energy, and/or the like. In other embodiments, various portions of the above process can be computer implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Jesse D. Olson, Daniel R. Lenz, Timothy R. Payne
  • Publication number: 20080296490
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing time of flight mass spectrometry wherein the number of sums of transients taken for generating a given spectra is determined as a function of a characteristic of the incoming data for that spectrum. For instance, the number of transient measurements taken for a given spectrum output can be determined as a function of the abundance of ions in the sample or the abundance of ions corresponding to a base peak or another selected peak. In yet another embodiment, the collection of transients is terminated when a threshold signal to noise ratio is attained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: August Jon Hidalgo, Bryan David Miller, Gregor T. Overney
  • Publication number: 20080296491
    Abstract: Means and method of rapid detection of a compound of interest from an air sample is shown. An air sample is collected, and concentration of the compound of interest can be increased. A portable spectrometer, which preferably is a time-of-flight spectrometer, detects the presence of any of the compound. The system allows for rapid detection of the presence of a compound in an air sample in a field setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Arkansas State University Research and Development Institute
    Inventors: Robyn Hannigan, Roger Buchanan, David Clarke
  • Publication number: 20080296492
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices and methods for receiving NSC Fluids having at least one analyte from a chromatograph and directing analyte ions into the vacuum regions of a mass spectrometer. The device has a housing having at least one wall defining a chamber, sample inlet, an ionization media inlet and an outlet. The sample inlet has a position in communication with a chromatograph receiving a NSC Fluid. The sample inlet receives the NSC Fluid and directs the NSC Fluid into the chamber to form a sample jet of NSC Fluid. The ionization media inlet is placed in fluid communication with a source of ionization media and directs the ionization media into the chamber and the sample jet to create analyte ions. The analyte ions are received in the mass spectrometer vacuum region orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: WATERS INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Joseph A. Jarrell
  • Publication number: 20080296493
    Abstract: An improved ion sampling tube designed to increase the amount of current delivered into the vacuum system of a mass spectrometer or other gas-phase ion or particle detectors or collectors. A device and method is disclosed that utilizes a tube with a high flow of ion entrained gas passing through the said tube. Said ions are directed from the tubular gas flow through an ion selective aperture and into an adjacent region and subsequently directed into a lower pressure region for detection or collection. The method is useful for enhancing the detection of analytes in solutions that are either nebulized or electrosprayed, and analytes present in gases. The method is also useful for isolating ionic species from the ion source from neutral gases and particles that may interfere or interact with analyte species. The method also decouples the high flow of the atmospheric pressure ion source from the low flow ion transmission into vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Ross Clark Willoughby, Edward William Sheehan
  • Publication number: 20080296494
    Abstract: The invention concerns a vacuum magnetic ion trap comprising an assembly forming a permanent magnet including at least two magnetized structures (30, 32) in the form of hollow cylinders, one convergent radial structure, magnetized along a convergent radial direction, and one divergent radial structure, magnetized along a divergent radial direction, said convergent and divergent radial magnetized structures (30, 32) being arranged along a common longitudinal axis (XX?). Said trap also comprises a sealed chamber (4) containing an ion confinement cell (8) fixed between said at least two magnetized structures (30, 32) and including at least two trapping electrodes (10) connectable to a voltage generator (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicants: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (C.N.R.S), UNIVERSITE PIERRE ET MARIE CURIE-PARIS VI TOUR CENTRALE, UNIVERSITE DE PARIS II PARIS SUD
    Inventors: Michel Heninger, Joel Lemaire, Gerard Mauclaire, Pierre Boissel
  • Publication number: 20080296495
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for trapping, manipulation and transferring ions along RF and DC potential surfaces and through RF ion guides Potential wells are formed near RF-field generating surfaces due to the overlap of the radio-frequency (RF) fields and electrostatic fields created by static potentials applied to surrounding electrodes. Ions can be constrained and accumulated over time in such wells During confinement, ions may be subjected to various processes, such as accumulation, fragmentation, collisional cooling, focusing, mass-to-charge filtering, spatial separation ion mobility and chemical interactions, leading to improved performance in subsequent processing and analysis steps, such as mass analysis. Alternatively, the motion of ions may be better manipulated during confinement to improve the efficiency of their transport to specific locations, such as an entrance aperture into vacuum from atmospheric pressure or into a subsequent vacuum stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Craig M. Whitehouse, David G. Welkie, Lisa Cousins
  • Publication number: 20080296496
    Abstract: An electron beam apparatus and method are presented for regulating wafer surface potential during e-beam (scanning electron microscopy SEM) inspection and review. Regulating surface potential is often critical to detect voltage contrast (VC) defects of specific type, and sometimes, its also an important factor to achieve high quality SEM images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Hermes Microvision, Inc. (TAIWAN)
    Inventors: Yan ZHAO, Joe Wang, Chi-Hua Tseng
  • Publication number: 20080296497
    Abstract: A system for analyzing a semiconductor device, including: a first ion beam apparatus including: a sample stage to mount a sample substrate; a vacuum chamber in which the sample stage is placed; an ion beam irradiating optical system to irradiate the sample substrate; a specimen holder that accommodates a plurality of specimens separated from the sample substrate by the irradiation of the ion beam; and a probe to extract the separated specimen from the sample substrate, and to transfer the separated specimen to the specimen holder; a second ion beam apparatus that carries out a finishing process to the specimen; and an analyzer to analyze the finished specimen, wherein the first ion beam apparatus separates the specimen and the probe in a vacuum condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Satoshi TOMIMATSU, Kaoru Umemura, Yuichi Madokoro, Yoshimi Kawanami, Yasunori Doi
  • Publication number: 20080296498
    Abstract: A method for STEM sample preparation and analysis that can be used in a FIB-STEM system without a flip stage. The method allows a dual beam FIB/STEM system with a typical tilt stage having a maximum tilt of approximately 60 to be used to extract a STEM sample to from a substrate, mount the sample onto a TEM sample holder, thin the sample using FIB milling, and rotate the sample so that the sample face is perpendicular to a vertical electron column for STEM imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: FEI Company
    Inventor: Liang Hong
  • Publication number: 20080296499
    Abstract: An optical microscope slide in a charged particle instrument such as an electron microscope or a focused ion beam instrument. Conventional microscope slides are not fit for use in an electron microscope as they are insulating and would thus charge when viewed in an electron microscope due to the impinging beam of charged particles. However, microscope slides exist that show a coating with a conductive layer of e.g. Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). These microscope slides are normally used for heating the object mounted on the slide by passing a current through the conductive layer. Experiments show that these microscope slides can be used advantageously in a charged particle instrument by connecting the conductive layer to e.g. ground potential, thereby forming a return path for the impinging charged particles and thus avoiding charging. The invention further relates to a charged particle instrument that is further equipped with an optical microscope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: FEI COMPANY
    Inventor: JACOB SIMON FABER
  • Publication number: 20080296500
    Abstract: A night vision device includes an objective lens assembly, an image detector assembly, an eyepiece lens assembly and a housing. The objective lens assembly receives low intensity light. The image detector assembly converts the low intensity light into a visible output image. The eyepiece lens assembly provides for viewing the output image from the image detector assembly. The housing receives the objective lens assembly, the image detector assembly, and the eyepiece lens assembly. Additionally, the housing aligns the objective lens assembly with the image detector assembly and the eyepiece lens assembly along an optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: LENARD V. RAMBOYONG, Yau L. Fung
  • Publication number: 20080296501
    Abstract: A technique is provided for detecting whether an object of interest is being carried by a subject. The technique includes coarsely scanning the subject with an electromagnetic radiation, measuring reflective intensity of radiation reflected from the subject, and detecting the presence or absence of the object of interest based upon the measured reflective intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Michael Breit, Florian Krug
  • Publication number: 20080296502
    Abstract: A first band pass filter selects and transmits light having an infrared wavelength specific to flame. A first infrared-ray receiving element receives the light from the first band pass filter. A second band pass filter selects and transmits light having an infrared wavelength which is not the infrared wavelength specific to flame. A second infrared-ray receiving element receives the light from the second band pass filter. A first output of the first infrared-ray receiving element is compared with a second output of the second infrared-ray receiving element to detect the flame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: NITTAN COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Akihisa KUDOH
  • Publication number: 20080296503
    Abstract: A scintillator composition includes a matrix material, where the matrix material includes an alkaline earth metal and a lanthanide halide. The scintillator composition further includes an activator ion, where the activator ion is a trivalent ion. In one embodiment, the scintillator composition includes a matrix material represented by A2LnX7, where A includes an alkaline earth metal, Ln includes a lanthanide ion, and X includes a halide ion. In another embodiment, the scintillator composition includes a matrix material represented by ALnX5, where A includes an alkaline earth metal, Ln includes a lanthanide ion, and X includes a halide ion. In these embodiments, the scintillator composition includes an activator ion, where the activator ion includes cerium, or bismuth, or praseodymium, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Steven Jude Duclos, Lucas Lemar Clarke, Holly Ann Comanzo, Qun Deng
  • Publication number: 20080296504
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus, primarily a radiation imaging apparatus and an array of coded aperture masks, for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine. The coded aperture masks are fitted with radiation attenuation tubes, each of which extends from each side of the mask in the direction of the mask apertures. The tubes are made from lead and have parallel sides. The masks are configured for gamma ray usage and are made from tungsten having a thickness of between 1 and 2 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG
    Inventors: David Mark Starfield, David Milton Rubin, Tshilidzi Marwala
  • Publication number: 20080296505
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing time-of-flight (TOF) images includes obtaining a profile of a subject to be imaged in an examination region (14) of an imaging system (10), Events associated with radiation emitted from the subject are detected and converted to electronic data. Electronic data attributable to radiation events located outside the profile are removed and images are reconstructed from the remaining electronic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N. V.
    Inventors: Steven E. Cooke, Donald R. Wellnitz, Thomas L. Laurence
  • Publication number: 20080296506
    Abstract: A detector having a thin film of boron nitride (BN) such as cubic BN, and method, system and array utilizing same are provided. Solid-state p-i-n, deep depletion p-n and Schottky diode detector devices based on a thin film of semiconducting cubic BN are provided. Miniaturized solid-state detectors based on cubic boron nitride have a broad range of applications, both civilian and military.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
    Inventors: Roy Clarke, Codrin N. Cionca
  • Publication number: 20080296507
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments, row-correlated noise of a digital X-ray detector is monitored during idle operation of the digital X-ray detector and the magnitude of the row-correlated noise is compared to a visible threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott William Petrick, Ping Xue, Chuande Liu, Kenneth Scott Kump, James Zhengshe Liu
  • Publication number: 20080296508
    Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation source is disclosed that produces a single mode operation at a desired operating frequency. The electromagnetic radiation source is included in a wide variety of applications including a wireless power transmission system, a system for providing wireless/high-bandwidth communications in accordance with the present invention, a lighting system, an irradiation system, a weapons system, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: James G. Small
  • Publication number: 20080296509
    Abstract: A phase-shifting element for shifting a phase of at least a portion of a particle beam is described, as well as a particle beam device having a phase-shifting element of this type. In the phase-shifting element and the particle beam device having a phase-shifting element, components shadowing the particle beam are avoided, so that proper information content is achieved and in which the phase contrast is essentially spatial frequency-independent. The phase-shifting element may have at least one means for generating a non-homogeneous or anisotropic potential. The particle beam device according to the system described herein may be provided with the phase-shifting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Rasmus Schroder, Bastian Barton, Gerd Benner, Harald Rose